Char and I had the awesome privilege of grandchild sitting a 2, 5 and 7 year old last week. It was amazing. We had toys, games, crafts, school trips, diapers, IPod sessions and face time with their holidaying parents.
I also had the unique privilege of encouraging one Grandson to color within the lines. His habit and skill level was to scribble all over the page ignoring the picture and plan. Each picture he destroyed was only a thrill to loving parents and grandparents. However, as we worked and played together we talked about the original picture. What did the artist have in mind drawing the tree, the clown, the fire truck, the autumn scene or the kids playing? I wanted my young artist to see the benefits and beauty of coloring within the lines and following the plan. The goal was to emphasize the thinking and see the picture within the mind of the original artist.
As we worked and played together I wondered how many years into the future I’d be teaching him an additional set of rules. There are times when following the rules are correct and should be reinforced. Traffic rules, accounting standards, tax regulations, values and those in authority. My mind was thinking of the future with my Grandson as a leader, be it in church, business or the most precious of all in his own home. Matthew illustrates, “Neither do people pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the skins will burst; the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved” (Matt 9:16).
Yes, my mind was racing far into the future when I’d be explaining to this same Grandson that a key role of leaders is to define a new more effective future, a God directed Vision or Mission statement. Then, redefine the rules and regulations to accomplish God’s plan.
Leadership is defining a Vision then drawing new lines and then coloring within those lines.
Yours in Service,